Dr. Neifert--are you on the Lactnet? I heard you on "Talk of the Nation"
today (USA radio program) and, although you are always a well-spoken
advocate of breastfeeding I wonder from where your often quoted "5%"
("only about 5% of women are unable to breastfeed") comes from? Is this
truly a hard fact? I ask only because when you speak you are quoted. You are
the "expert" often quoted in "experts estimate that..." I can't tell you how
this 5% figure haunts me in my work (usually as justification for a woman's
"insufficient milk"). And that 5% figure has crept into the literature. If
it is truly a valid figure forgive my ignorance; if it is not "hard
fact"--why do you keep quoting it?

Margery Wilson, IBCLC
Appreciating Drs. Labbock, Baumslag and Neifert in their media appearance
today!
MIT Medical Department
Cambridge, MA
USA